the lines are still good

﻿Follow the happenings of an animated college tennis coach and his teams in their pursuit of an NCAA National Tennis Championship. It is always the impressive trophy that is displayed for all to admire that gets the attention, but it is the journey to claiming that trophy, the relationships built, the people served and the memories created, that live forever...and what I hope you will find interesting...

Saturday, June 29, 2013

It's been a bit of a roller coaster ride this off season as big changes are in store for the rosters next season...

On the men's side of things we graduated David Tisserand, Andreas Lindell and Andrey Boldarev. These fine young men greatly contributed to our success during their tenure here at Concordia and will certainly be difficult to replace. Each have seen at least two NCAA "final-fours" and Andrey reached this milestone all four of his years.

Luckily we have two players already here on campus that will step right in and we expect them to have a similar impact to that of those recently departed. There will also be others joining the roster that will be announced in the near future and I look forward to sharing that shortly.

The women's picture will be significantly altered as the core of our roster will not be returning to our squad in the fall. Of course, we graduated Yuliya Plevako, Ana Mendes, and Camilla Xavier and they will be missed. In addition, Estelle Fougeray, after a super first year in Bronxville, has decided to give medical school a shot back in her native France and we wish her the best of luck. Luisa Candido will certainly be missed as she has opted for a transfer to another university. Lastly, Zi Ling has also left Concordia to attend another university.

Clearly, there is much work to do and I have been doing it...or at least trying to do it. Losing too much sleep actually. It's just not easy to replace so many players all at once. However, not to worry my friends of the Clipper ship, we will be just fine when school starts this fall. Final roster additions are expected and I hope that everything is completed in a few short weeks. I look forward to sharing the final rosters with you as soon as possible. I really think you will all be very proud of your new Clippers and will have quite a bit to be excited about going forward.

Yours truly...

I got involved with Concordia Tennis as a way to honor my parents who were both professors and coaches at the college back in the 1960's and also to give back to the program that provided so much for me.
I started with a dream of taking a team to the National "Sweet 16". However, once we got there and I saw what it took to win a National Championship, it looked possible and that became my goal. I thought for a long time that I must have one. However, over time, I realized that it is more important to focus on building champions rather than winning championships and that relationships are far more important than achievements. Thus, a stronger purpose became clear. I am here to love, serve, care for and lead my teams...

Quotes:

"I came to realize that life lived to help others is the only one that matters, and that it is my duty, in return for the lavish life God has devolved upon me, to help others he has placed in my path." - Ben Stein

"You are never really playing an opponent. You are playing yourself, your own highest standards, and when you reach your limits, that is real joy." - Arthur Ashe